6 ways to enjoy alcohol on Weight Watchers

While it isn't recommended to drink alcohol every day while on Weight Watchers, the occasional alcoholic drink is allowed in moderation.

Light beer and wine are great choices, because they're widely available and low in SmartPoints.

Get creative and mix your own cocktails with liquor and diet-friendly ingredients.

Flavored liquors and small splashes of juices or sodas can elevate your drink without adding a ton of SmartPoints.

If you're trying to lose weight, a general rule of thumb is to avoid alcohol. Alcoholic drinks are typically high in calories and sugar and can dehydrate you. Not to mention being tipsy makes it often makes it harder to avoid late night snacks.

But if you're on Weight Watchers, everything is allowed in moderation — even cocktails. If you're looking to relax after a long week without halting your weight loss progress, its best to choose a drink that is low in SmartPoints.

Check out our picks for the best low-point alcoholic beverages below that we found on the Weight Watchers app. Keep in mind that many of the point values will depend on how you make your drinks.

1/

Wine is easy to track and low in SmartPoints.

At only four SmartPoints per serving, red or white wine is an easy choice at restaurants and bars. Not only is it widely available and quick to track in your Weight Watchers app, but you also know exactly what's in the glass. With mixed drinks, there's always the potential that the bartender didn't make the drink to your specifications. If they forget to use diet soda or use a heavy pour on the liquor, you could end up drinking added SmartPoints without even knowing it. With wine, what you see is what you get — no hidden added sugars or added alcohol to worry about.

If drinking at home, be careful to monitor your pour. Weight Watchers makes Portion Control Wine Glasses that have subtle etchings on them, making pouring the proper serving size easy.

2/

Light beer is also an uncomplicated choice.

Whether at a barbecue, a bar, or a friend's house on a Saturday night, light beer is something you can find at almost any situation. If you like beer, it's a great fallback option if lighter cocktails are unavailable.

A 12 oz serving of light beer will run you around three SmartPoints, depending on the brand. Popular varieties such as Corona Light, Miller Light, Michelob Ultra, Coors Light, and Sam Adams Light are all three SmartPoints, but Bud Light, Bud Light Lime, and Dos Equis will cost you four SmartPoints.

Create your own low-point margarita.

Did you know a traditional 6 oz margarita will cost you 17 SmartPoints? For some, that splurge may be worth it, but if you don't want to break your SmartPoints bank, get creative.

To create a three SmartPoint "margarita," pour 1.5 oz of tequila over ice, add fresh lime juice, and top with Sprite Zero. You can also use lemon-lime flavored sparkling water for a less sweet version.

4/

Sip and savor liquor on the rocks.

Liquor on the rocks, while a low-point option, is not for the faint of heart. If you can handle drinking your alcohol straight, it will save you added points that you may consume via sugary, calorie-laden mixers. It also allows you to take more time savoring one drink, saving you SmartPoints in the long run.

A whiskey and diet soda may only run you three SmartPoints, but with the sweetness of the mixer, you may drink three or four servings in the course of one night. But if you take your whiskey (or other liquor) by itself on the rocks, the potent flavor will help you slow down and drink less over time.

Nearly all liquor (rum, vodka, gin, tequila, whiskey, etc.) is three SmartPoints for one 1.5 oz serving. With this knowledge in hand, you can create your own personal point-friendly cocktail by mixing your favorite liquor with zero point mixers such as flavored sparkling water, club soda, diet soda, diet tonic, and diet drinks.

To enhance your drink, use flavored liquor like Crown Royal Green Apple or Tito's Grapefruit Vodka - both three SmartPoints per serving.

If you have extra SmartPoints to spare, add a small splash of fresh fruit juice or ginger beer to your cocktail. This will increase your drink by about one to two SmartPoints depending on the size of your splash, but it can add a ton a flavor.

6/

Vodka is the most versatile liquor option.

Pick a vodka.
Monticello/Shutterstock

Vodka is notorious for being easy to mix into cocktails without overwhelming other flavors, making it perfect for mixing a low-point drink.

To take your vodka cocktail to the next level without adding extra points, throw in some fresh fruit. The natural fruit juices add extra flavor and when you're finished with your drink you'll have some zero SmartPoint fruit pieces to snack on.